How to improve organizational performance through learning and knowledge?

Abstract

Purpose

Through investigating the relationship among human resource management (HRM), organizational learning (OL), organizational innovation (OI), knowledge management capability (KMC), and organizational performance (OP), the aim of this paper was to find a way of improving organizational performance through learning and knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The population of this study included 659 employees from electronic industrial listed and over‐the‐counter listed technological companies in Taiwan (N=208, valid return rate 37.21 percent). Descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as structural equation modeling were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that: HRM strategies result in better organizational learning, organizational innovation, and knowledge management capability, which ultimately contributes to achieving organizational performance; organizational learning improves organizational innovation and accumulates knowledge management capability; organizational innovation results in knowledge management capability development, which contributes to the establishment of organizational development; and technological companies should utilize organizational knowledge in order to enhance organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

The generalization of the present study is constrained by the existence of possible biases of the participants, and the regional‐constrained data which were collected in and thus focused on Taiwan. Thus, the characteristics of the surveyed firms may be different from those in other areas or countries. Managerial implications are presented at the end of the work.

Originality/value

This structure has rarely been explored and the findings are particularly useful for management in helping to set human resource management, learning, innovation, knowledge management and organizational performance in a bigger context.

Citation

Kuo, T. (2011), "How to improve organizational performance through learning and knowledge?", International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 32 No. 5/6, pp. 581-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437721111158215